"Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place:
for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword".

While we fully approve the views of brother Wm. J. Purington on Matthew 26:52
in reply to the inquiry of "E. H.", we feel inclined to express a few thoughts
further upon the same subject, which are designed to be in perfect harmony
with what he has written. The perfect security and perpetuity of the Kingdom
of Christ upon its own basis, independently of the powers of this world, is a
delightful consideration to the enlightened children of God. No carnal weapons
are required to repel the foes of God and truth, for no weapon that is formed
against Zion can prosper.

"Salvation (not swords nor spears, but the salvation of our God) will God
appoint for walls and bulwarks." Not only are they not required or needed,
but they are most positively forbidden. All our trust and reliance for
protection and safety must be in God. He is himself a wall of fire round
about his people, and the glory in their midst. In this particular is the
church of God manifestly distinguished from all anti-Christian churches or
religious organizations. In all ages, worldly religion has relied on worldly
support and worldly protections. At this very day there is a mighty howling
among the shepherds of anti-Christ, and those religious denominations who
have been the principal promoters of the dreadful scenes of carnage which
has just swept over our country, desolating what was the fairest portion of
the earth, slaughtering hundreds of thousands of our fellow-men, and both
at the North and the South are now appealing to the worst passions of men to
aid in procuring from the secular powers a law for the suppression of those
religious orders which they deem antagonistic to their interests, pleading
that their religious establishments are in danger by reason of the Roman
Catholics, and all others who will not pander to them. They staining the
earth with a crimson tide ask, and even demand that the sword of state shall
be drawn for the suppression of those whom they proscribe as heterodox, and
for their own defense. They take the sword, rely upon the sword, and with
sword shall they perish. But it is not so with the church of the living
God.

Not only has the cause of God and his church always been sustained without
aid or protection of human governments, but in opposition to all the powers
of earth and hell, and always in such a manner as to clearly show that God
is himself the strength of Israel, and the Savior thereof in the time of
trouble. His name is their strong tower, and in his pavilion where he has
hidden them they have perfect safety. We perfectly agree with brother
Purington that Christians are forbidden to use carnal weapons for the
defense of the kingdom of God, which being "not of this world," cannot be
sustained by the power of this world. But the question arises, and perhaps
was intended by "E. H.,"Are Christians allowed, by the laws of Christ, to
use the sword, or carnal weapons, in any case, or under any circumstances
whatever?" The more we have reflected upon this subject, the deeper our
convictions have become that the precepts, as well as the spirit of Christ
in his saints, forbid it. Every essential requisite for a Christian
disqualifies him for carnal warfare. To be a disciple of the meek and lowly
Lamb of God, we must have his spirit and temper; and except we have it we
cannot be his disciple. While to fit men for carnal warfare they must be
bold, daring, defiant, aspiring, and unpitying. To be a disciple of Christ
we must love our enemies, do good to them who despitefully use and persecute
us; but to be a soldier in carnal warfare, we are forbidden to sympathize
with our enemies, or to give them aid or comfort, on pain of penalties
provided in the laws of human warfare

The Christian then, to be a soldier in carnal warfare, must abandon the laws
of Christ and submit to the military code; must disobey the commands of
Christ, and obey the opposite commands of military chieftains. How truly
are we told, "No man can serve two masters." How can we possibly obey both
when one commands us to kill, and the other forbids us to kill? When one
commands us to love, pray for, and do good to our enemies, and the other
commands us to fight, rob, harass and destroy them? The example of Christ
is given as an infallible guide to all this children, and in that example he
went about doing good to all classes of men, friends and foes; healing the
sick, feeding the hungry, and showing compassion to all who were in distress;
in all his walks he was holy, harmless, undefiled, and separate from sinners,
and he commands his disciples to follow him. And he says, "Except a man deny
himself, and take up his cross, and follow me, he cannot be my disciple."

The recruiting officers of Caesar would reject such men as really and truly
follow Christ as unfit for a pace in their army. What do they want of men
who love their enemies, or who will not kill, or rob, or spoil their enemies?
But while the meek, lowly, loving, sympathizing Christian would be rejected,
they would greatly prefer carnal professors and graceless hypocrites, who
go in the way of Cain, whose feet are swift to shed blood, and before whose
eyes there is no fear of God, and of whom it is said, Misery and destruction
are in all their ways. Such are the men for carnal warfare; those who are
led by the spirit, temper and example of him who was a murderer from the
beginning, and abode not in the truth. But those who strictly follow him
who came not to destroy mens' lives, but so save them, would only be in the
way in earthly warfare.

But it is urged that Christians are to "be subject to the powers that be, and
to obey those who are in authority over them." This is very true, but at the
same time they are told that there is no power, or authority but that which
is of God. Usurpation is not legitimate power, and usurpers have in reality
no authority to enjoin on the subjects of Christ's government anything that
Christ has forbidden; for Christ is himself the only blessed potentate, the
King of kings, and Lord of lords. In everything wherein God has invested
kings, governors, rulers or judges of the earth with power or authority over
the citizens of the world, the Christian is, by the laws and commandments of
Christ, required to honor and obey them, to that extent, but no further.
Whether it be right for Christians to obey men rather than God, judge ye.
If Caesar commands us to kill, and God commands us, saying, "Thou shalt not
kill," which is to be obeyed? Or if rulers of the earth forbid the minsters
of Christ, as in the case of Peter and John in Acts 5:29, to preach in the
name of Christ, and God has commanded them to preach, is it hard to determine
which is the higher power, or which is to be obeyed?

It is said that some Christians have been compelled to take up arms, and to
slaughter their fellow men. This may be so; but we do not know of a case in
which a Christian, how as conscientiously opposed to carnal warfare, viewing
it a violation of the law of Christ, who has made his appeal in solemn prayer
to God for deliverance, and has not been delivered. But even if it were so,
if the Christians were actuated by the same mind which was evinced by the
martyrs of former times, would they not sooner suffer death themselves than
yield to violate the law of Christ by killing their fellow men?

Let the church of God take her position as a city set upon a hill, whose
light cannot be hidden; and let it be known that come life, or come death,
her members cannot be forced to shed the blood, or destroy the property of
their fellow men under any circumstances whatever, then we doubt whether the
governments of the world would have use for such soldiers as they would make.
But should they persist, we might look for a divine interposition, or if
brought to the test, God would give us grace to bear all the consequences.
it is not strange, as the case now stands, that the governments of the earth
should regard the conscientious scruples of Christians as unimportant and
trifling. For while nearly all the anti-Christian orders of religionists
not only sanction, but absolutely occupy a leading position in all the wars
that agitate the world, the church has been slow, very slow indeed, to
declare her position and say to the world that she will, under no
circumstance, stain her hands with blood. But instead of holding this
position, has not the church been faulty in withholding her light upon this
subject; and have not, some at least of the members voluntarily entered the
field of carnage, or advocated the shedding of blood; and when the matter
has been submitted to the voice or vote of the people, have not some, even
of the members of the church of God, the professed disciples and followers
of the Prince of Peace, given their voice, their vote, and the full measure
of their influence for war, to the bitter end? How is this to be reconciled
with the command of God to "Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without
which no man shall see the Lord?" There are many examples given of Christ
and his apostles, and the primitive saints, resisting evil even unto the
death, striving against sin, but in all cases refusing the use of carnal
weapons. But in what part of the sacred volume have we an account of Paul,
applying to Nero for a Major or Brigadier General's commission, or Peter
asking for and army contract, or even of the loving John preaching war
sermons, and making war speeches to induce the disciples of the Lamb to
enter the army? Even if we had such examples left on record, we are
forbidden to follow them; for we are only to follow even the apostles as
far as they followed Christ. And Christ, when he was reviled, reviled not
again; and he has commanded his disciples to "Avenge not themselves; to
resist not evil with evil." If smitten on one cheek, to turn the other
cheek also to the smiter, and to remember the word of instruction,
"Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord." If God thus claims the
sole right of arbitration and retribution, and if he has as positively
forbidden us to avenge ourselves, is it not irreverent and presumptuous
for us to usurp the ministration of wrath and vengeance in his stead?
Let those who know no God and therefore fear him not indulge their cruel
passions; but, Christians forbear! Let not the sun go down on your wrath.
Appeal not to the sword, lest by the sword ye perish!

The preceding classic was written by Elder Gilbert Beebe founder and
publisher of the "Sign of the Times". It was included in the August, 1865
edition and covers a subject which many christians seldom carefully
examine in the light of the scriptures.